For the past decade or so, there has been an almost insatiable appetite for big adventure bikes. The desire to travel on a motorcycle has always been there, and it is easy to see the appeal of such a motorcycle, but its limitations were also there for all to see. Big adventure bikes can be awkward and unwieldy off-road, and on it, are not quite as comfortable as a dedicated touring bike.

Follow and Like top authors, topics, and trends

Browse with fewer ads across the site

Personalize your profile to showcase your activity

Get a content feed tailored to your interests

By creating an account, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive our newsletters; you can unsubscribe any time.

*Required: 8 chars, 1 capital letter, 1 number

Middleweight touring bikes are about as practical as any motorcycle on the market right now. Able to go anywhere you please over a weekend, yet also double up as a commuter during the week. The Honda NT1100 is especially practical thanks to its ultra-reliable, under-stressed parallel-twin. It is also relatively light for a touring bike, but it certainly is not alone in this space.

Suzuki offers what we feel is the most balanced touring bike on the market right now. With a long list of features supplemented by a potent inline-4 engine, the GSX-S1000GT+ is difficult to ignore. Kawasaki offers the slightly more expensive Ninja 1100 SX SE, but with that, you trade standard luggage for a fancy Öhlins rear shock. Both of these bikes offer a little more for more.

Yamaha has what we feel is the most like-for-like alternative in the form of the Tracer 9. Although it has a little more power, it also costs a bit more than the Honda. Triumph also got in on the act with the Tiger Sport 800 this year, and it is priced competitively. Out of all the bikes in this space, it is the only one with a new engine, and as much as that means it is an unknown quantity, we expect nothing but the best from Triumph these days.

This is Honda's first-ever modern sports tourer and it has the same versatile engine as the Africa Twin ADV.

1,084 cc Parallel-Twin, liquid-cooled

The NT1100 is new to the US market, but it is not a new platform. It has been selling well throughout Europe for quite some time now, and it shares an engine with both the Rebel 1100 and the Africa Twin. What this engine lacks in overall horsepower, it more than makes up for in grunt. 83 pound-feet of torque might not get cruiser enthusiasts buzzing, but it is more than enough for this relatively light touring bike. Honda’s unique Unicam design has proven to be incredibly robust over the past few years, and while the Gold Wing has had the odd uncharacteristic blip in reliability, this parallel-twin remains one of the most reliable engines in the industry.

Arguably, the most interesting part of this engine is the transmission Honda likes to attach to it. Unlike the European version, which also has a manual transmission, the US version only gets Honda’s trademark DCT. It is one of those love-it-or-hate-it kind of features, but it is hard to dispute its worth on a touring bike upon which riders will cover large distances in one day. Anything that can reduce rider fatigue is appreciated in those cases. For those who live in a city, it will also come in handy when it comes time to navigate your way through slow-moving traffic.

Tour in total comfort with these 10 top-rated sport and full-dress touring motorcycles, built for big miles, smooth rides, and stress-free weekends.

We feel it is rather important to address the elephant in the room – those saddlebags you see in just about every other image are optional. It seems rather egregious that Honda left these on the options list, but that is the only way it was able to undercut the direct competition. Both Kawasaki and Triumph do the same thing, and it is very important to factor some luggage – be it the factory-spec hard cases, or something from the aftermarket – into the price.

Other than that, you get pretty much everything. Traction control and ABS are a given, but things like a 6.5-inch TFT dash with smartphone connectivity, ride modes and cruise control are not. Heated grips also make the cut, as does an adjustable windshield. For the price, this is a very high-spec motorcycle, but its biggest selling point is still the fact that it is a Honda. It may sound like a cop-out, but Honda has the most extensive dealer network in the US. So, although this may not offer the most bang for the buck in the segment, it still offers more than enough real-world performance. Those old inline-4 superbikes engines are fun, but ultimately unnecessary and not particularly economical. The two triples are also a little more interesting, but ultimately not quite as pragmatic as the Honda.

In summary, the NT1100 has more than enough features to satisfy anyone, but the lack of saddlebags is a miss. Yet, ultimately, at this price point, it is forgivable. You still get a lot of motorcycle for your money, and one thing that few brands can offer these days: genuine peace of mind while on the road far from home.

Source: https://www.topspeed.com/japanese-touring-bike-can-do-it-all/